The Canadian border being closed to live cattle has little to do with today’s high calf prices, says Tom Hanson, a fourth-generation cow-calf operator from North Platte, Nebraska, and president of the Nebraska Cattlemen.  

Cut #1    :33  Outcue: "...made up of border disputes."

Hanson says strong consumer beef demand is the key to good cattle prices. He feels demand may be jeopardized if some factions of the industry insist on trying to scare consumers about the safety of Canadian beef.

Cut #2    :26  Outcue: "...those who disparage it."

He also stated that the migration of packing and feeding capacity from the U.S. to Canada is a big blow to the economy in his part of the nation.

Cut #3    :21 Outcue: "...as boxed beef.”

Hanson also feels that efforts to block Canada from exporting cattle are hurting U.S. efforts to re-open key export markets, and cited a report from James Wiesemeyer of Inside Washington Today in which Japanese officials clearly made this connection.

Cut #4    :30  Outcue: “...we’d be far ahead.”